Imperial Guard retirement question

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**Corporal_Reznov**

Connor MacLeod wrote:It probably depends on the regiment in question, where they're located, and how far away from home they are. CAdians serving in the Ultima segmentum (it's happened, IIRC there were supposed to be Cadians in Damocles Gulf for some reason) probably wouldn't get repatriated home for example. But a regiment one sector over might get retired or returned home. Colonization seems more likely, since it is guaranteed to create a nucleus of Imperial-loyal support on the planet (which only serves the Imperium's interests) as well as facilitating the spreading of the doctrine and military knowledge it might favor (Krieg settling Baran and spinning off the Baran Siegemasters.)

Next likely is that a "retired" regiment is established on some other location off the frontlines as a garrison regiment. Again it has benefits of integration and reinforcing loyalty. Other options are that they get folded into another regiment and their old number is "retired" or returned to the homeworld so a fresh founding under that name can be raised. Or two regiments might be combined (A variation of the above, without retiring the number).

It's also quite possible they may just be retired and dropped off on the nearest Imperial-held or Imperial allied planet, and left to fend for themselves as best they can. That seems rather likely, given the Imperial approach.

Examples of IG troops being returned ot their homeworld are the Sameter guardsmen from the one Eisenhorn short story, as well as another mentioned in the Inquisition War novels (third novel, I think.) whereupon they ended up serving as private military forces/mercenaries on planet. There was also Dr BelKnap from Ravenor, and some dude from the LEt the Galaxy Burn short story "angels" I think.

I suspect the reality is that there is no policy from "up top" EG the High Lords or segmentum level as to how IG regiments are handled. It is probably left to the sector, subsector, or even system level as to how they are dealt with, and as a consequence that means it can vary from planet to planet, sector to sector, or even war to war.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:I believe its up to the Lord Militant General whom the guardsmen belongs too. For most duty really does only end in death but maybe some of the nicer ones might give a 25 year tour of duty. Also, maybe he could release one he's particularly fond of or has taken a particularly bad mauling etc. As usual with most things in 40K: it depends

These 2 gave the best answers in my opinion.

**Raulmichile**

I think as Canuk said it dependes a lot of the combination of situations. If the regiment fought well and there is a new planet nearby, and the navy has some spare ships or plans to go near that planet, it may be.

But on the other hand, if your regiment was asigned to counter the invasion of Cadia, or to fight a Tyranid tendril or to combat Angron at Armaggedon, well, you are dead since your very enlistment and don't expect a peaceful death surorrounded by your grandchildren.

It is all a matter of luck and logistics. IG regiments are (expendable) assets. How you want to manage them is up to you. I don't think the Imperium has a fixed policy for retirements in IG.

**rob-or-ross**

Lynata wrote:
Those veteran rank-and-file who really are as lucky as to reach grandpa-age (which is actually highly unlikely, as Veterans will simply be thrust into ever more dangerous situations because of their experience and accumulated special equipment) probably end up with a desk job in the staff section or are simply dropped off at a Schola to continue their service to the Emperor by teaching the next generation of warriors how to fight.

I am involved in training soldiers.

It is neither a quick nor an easy task. The has to be a large number of "retired" guys training the massed ranks of the IG.

Unless it it the WWII Soviet model of "here's your uniform, you'll pick the rest up as you go along" which seems pretty inefficient.

**Sturmtruppen**

IIRC, Eisenhorn: Malleus says retired Cadians go on to join Cadia's PDF, the Internal Troops.

**BeefCakeSoup**

Brother Coa wrote:So my assumption was right, they do get pension. However, it depends on world in question, current battle situation and years of life.

But I didn't know that some of them go nuts after they get pension.

All propaganda aside, I'd imagine if reality has even the smallest impact on 40K, the suicide rates for PTSD in the IoM would be at critical levels for the IG.

For the sake of your own fluff, you could have a planet that mandates "x" years of service before an optional retirement. A lot of military institutions require "x" years of service for different brackets of benefits.

**Melissia**

The Imperial Guard doesn'th ave suicides, it has volunteers for extra duty.

**Panopticon**

I imagine most volunteer regiments have a retirement age or minimum enlistment, after which you can choose to be dropped off wherever you are or re-enlist.

In one of the Gaunts Ghosts novels there is a conversation between Gaunt and Dorden, who is a quite aged medic in which Dorden informs Gaunt that if he had chosen to leave the guard at the normal mustering out age he would have been able to do so years ago, which implies that at least some of the guard operates with a retirement age, and probably that it is not unique to the Ghosts.

**Lynata**

rob-or-ross wrote:I am involved in training soldiers.
It is neither a quick nor an easy task. The has to be a large number of "retired" guys training the massed ranks of the IG.
Unless it it the WWII Soviet model of "here's your uniform, you'll pick the rest up as you go along" which seems pretty inefficient.

That's the Imperial Guard for you. How well a regiment is trained depends almost entirely on the world it is raised on and so can range from conscripted farmhands to tribal warriors to professional soldiers that have undergone many months of training - entirely independent from the Imperial Guard and supported only by the respective world's own fighting forces.

Imperial Guard "training" consists of some sort of quick course by the hands of the regiment's new Commissar(s) where troops are shown how to operate a lasgun and the most basic equipment such as a voxlink or a grenade (which, depending on where the regiment was raised, might be entirely new knowledge). The duration of this training depends not on the readiness of the soldiers but solely on how long the transport needs until it reaches the warzone to unload the troops, which can mean months or weeks.

The Schola Progenium is the only instance I can recall where it was mentioned that IG veterans assume a mentor role, and there they don't teach the rank-and-file but tomorrow's elite.

Of course even Codex information is only a suggestion, but I think it fits best with the remaining information on the Imperial Guard (and the setting as a whole) that can be found in other GW books.

**gman1401**

I don't have it on me, but the first imperial guard omnibus discusses it in the last story.

**Varrick**

Lynata wrote:
rob-or-ross wrote:I am involved in training soldiers.
It is neither a quick nor an easy task. The has to be a large number of "retired" guys training the massed ranks of the IG.
Unless it it the WWII Soviet model of "here's your uniform, you'll pick the rest up as you go along" which seems pretty inefficient.
That's the Imperial Guard for you. How well a regiment is trained depends almost entirely on the world it is raised on and so can range from conscripted farmhands to tribal warriors to professional soldiers that have undergone many months of training - entirely independent from the Imperial Guard and supported only by the respective world's own fighting forces.

Imperial Guard "training" consists of some sort of quick course by the hands of the regiment's new Commissar(s) where troops are shown how to operate a lasgun and the most basic equipment such as a voxlink or a grenade (which, depending on where the regiment was raised, might be entirely new knowledge). The duration of this training depends not on the readiness of the soldiers but solely on how long the transport needs until it reaches the warzone to unload the troops, which can mean months or weeks.

The Schola Progenium is the only instance I can recall where it was mentioned that IG veterans assume a mentor role, and there they don't teach the rank-and-file but tomorrow's elite.

Of course even Codex information is only a suggestion, but I think it fits best with the remaining information on the Imperial Guard (and the setting as a whole) that can be found in other GW books.

I thought training took 4 or more months as the standard and was more intensive than modern training. Guard do get trained; the Imperium doesn't just send an army of militia level soldiers.

**Connor MacLeod**

Some IG troops get training (or at least further training) - depending on situation. Usually you find this happening with the regular, annual tithed regiments (which come from PDF, militia, etc.) With no overriding concerns or problems driving the need for troops they can devote time and resources to training (onboard the ship and sometimes after. IG troops can become incredibly cross-trained if they are a well motivated regiment on garrison duty for example, the third edition guard codex had an example towards the back.)

In other situations when you need troops rapidly (wartime conditions) you may end up getting conscription. Training may or may not occur depending on the circumstances, and the extent of training may vary. The same is true of feral world regiments really (some may be taught how to use Imperial weapons and Imperial stuff, but others will just be given a gun and left to manage as best as possible.)

The Imperium will at least try to train the troops ot some degree if it has the time (and if they aren' toutrigth cannon fodder to the General or Munitorum officers) but sometimes they don't have the luxury (or inclination.)

**Corporal_Reznov**

It depends, IG regiments are supposed to be tithed from the 10% of the PDF but as in Real Life just because the rules say something doesn't mean everyone follows it nor do realities allow such situations whereupon the rules can be effectively followed. Like for example; a Planetary Governor has money and instead of spending it to create IG or PDF regiments wastes it on himself(corruption). Anwyay, a while he finds out that he has to raise an IG regiment for a tithe but he doesn't have any so what does he do? He conscripts civilians, gives them substandard traiing and sends them off as a tithe hoping that the Imperium buys the lie that these IG are fully trained.

Also, logistics can make even the most well trained and equipped IG lose if they don't have supplies or armour etc.

**Lynata**

Varrick wrote:I thought training took 4 or more months as the standard and was more intensive than modern training. Guard do get trained; the Imperium doesn't just send an army of militia level soldiers.

If you go by GW Codex material (which you don't have to, a lot of licensed products don't, but personally I try to stay as close to the source as possible) the standard response time for newly recruited regiments was mentioned as being between 30 and 120 days, with 75 days as the standard. This includes not only travel time (in which training will be conducted) but also fleet assembly, boarding procedures and munitions collection. Furthermore, I am somewhat sceptical as to how drill in the confines of a shipboard environment can truly be more intensive than contemporary training, where the soldiers can at least go outdoors.

Thus, it is my interpretation that IG training merely serves as some sort of "refresher course", intended to provide the very minimum of knowledge, likely focused on how to operate and recharge the weapons the troops were handed. Real experience, however, I only see coming from the optional preceding PDF training as it is bestowed upon Cadian, Krieg or Mordian formations. However, there will also be plenty of worlds where the Planetary Defense Force is trained in little else than marching parades, or where the "PDF" isn't even a working military unit but just a loose coalition of warrior clans running around in chainmail. This is why Imperial Guard regiments end up being so diverse, after all. And yes, the Imperium has no issue at all sending an army of militia level soldiers (the Medusa Codex even mentioned conscripting farmhands who had zero martial experience at all before boarding their transport). That's Grimdark for you.

But as pointed out before, it depends which sources you go by.

**Corporal_Reznov**

Lynata wrote:
Varrick wrote:I thought training took 4 or more months as the standard and was more intensive than modern training. Guard do get trained; the Imperium doesn't just send an army of militia level soldiers.
If you go by GW Codex material (which you don't have to, a lot of licensed products don't, but personally I try to stay as close to the source as possible) the standard response time for newly recruited regiments was mentioned as being between 30 and 120 days, with 75 days as the standard. This includes not only travel time (in which training will be conducted) but also fleet assembly, boarding procedures and munitions collection. Furthermore, I am somewhat sceptical as to how drill in the confines of a shipboard environment can truly be more intensive than contemporary training, where the soldiers can at least go outdoors.

Thus, it is my interpretation that IG training merely serves as some sort of "refresher course", intended to provide the very minimum of knowledge, likely focused on how to operate and recharge the weapons the troops were handed. Real experience, however, I only see coming from the optional preceding PDF training as it is bestowed upon Cadian, Krieg or Mordian formations. However, there will also be plenty of worlds where the Planetary Defense Force is trained in little else than marching parades, or where the "PDF" isn't even a working military unit but just a loose coalition of warrior clans running around in chainmail. This is why Imperial Guard regiments end up being so diverse, after all. And yes, the Imperium has no issue at all sending an army of militia level soldiers (the Medusa Codex even mentioned conscripting farmhands who had zero martial experience at all before boarding their transport). That's Grimdark for you.

But as pointed out before, it depends which sources you go by.

Read 15 hours about how training is s Spaceship can be done. Also read Deathwatch for an example Imperial environmental manipulation tech.